Rabies in raccoons: optimal control for a discrete time model on a spatial grid

Area of Science:

• Veterinary epidemiology
• Mathematical modeling
• Disease control

Background:

• Rabies poses a significant threat to wildlife populations, particularly raccoons.
• Effective control strategies are crucial for managing rabies transmission in endemic areas.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and analyze a discrete-time, spatially explicit epidemic model for rabies in raccoons.
• To determine optimal strategies for distributing vaccine baits to minimize disease spread and control costs.

Main Methods:

• Formulation of a discrete-time, spatially structured epidemic model.
• Application of discrete optimal control techniques to derive the optimality system.
• Numerical solution of the optimality system to explore various control scenarios.

Main Results:

• The study provides a framework for optimizing rabies vaccine bait deployment in raccoon populations.
• Numerical simulations illustrate the effectiveness of different distribution strategies under various conditions.
• Identified key factors influencing the success of baiting programs.

Conclusions:

• Discrete optimal control offers a robust method for managing wildlife rabies epidemics.
• Spatially and temporally optimized vaccine bait distribution is essential for cost-effective disease control.
• The model can inform public health and wildlife management decisions regarding rabies.